UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION (UUA)
| Monday, January 19, through Monday, February 16, 2026 — |
Love At The Center: Reimagining the World As It Could Be
At a time when fear, violence, and extraction dominate our politics and our planet, we
practice another way. We believe love is not fragile; it is fierce. It grounds our organizing,
fuels our imagination, and sustains our communities. Over five weeks, we will move through
a journey from imagination to action, rooting our freedom dreams in faith and bringing
them to life in our world.
Each week beginning January 19, we will reflect on and offer practices inspired by how our Side With Love team organizes our work and practice:
- Imagining Thriving - When we ask ourselves to “Reimagine Thriving”, what does that mean? Why reimagine? Can’t we just imagine and get on with it?
- Grounding in Context – …Because we believed, and still do, that just because the hardships are inevitable, it doesn’t mean the beauty and healing are impossible.
- Nurturing Community – tending to relationships, belonging, and the sacred web that holds us.
- This Week: Mobilizing for Action – “In the season of darkness, I find it easy to nest, grounded in revelations that come out of the long nights. But as the Winter Solstice gives way to the growing of the light, it is time once again to begin to open up and connect. I invite you to consider: where are you wishing to be invited in to? What are you part of that brings you joy that you could invite others into? What could you be part of building in the new year that would make you want to join, and to invite?” — Caitlin Breedlove
- Exploring Possibilities – opening ourselves to emergence, creativity, and transformation as we make the future together.
Over these five weeks we will move from imagination to action, returning again and again to the spiritual practices that keep us on a faithful path and resist the ways these times can corrupt the spirit. At a time when fear, violence, and extraction dominate our politics and our planet, we practice another way. We cultivate a love that is not fragile — it is fierce. It grounds our organizing, fuels our imagination, and sustains our communities.
General Assembly (GA) News
Boston, Mass. (June 26, 2024) – Unitarian Universalists (UUs) adopted new language on core religious values at the denomination’s General Assembly (GA) from June 20th through June 23rd. GA is the annual gathering of UUs, where the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) conducts business, gathers in community, learns and worships together, and emphasizes the Association’s mission, values, and principles. The UUA's bronze chalice with two circles connected sits on a podium with a lit candle in it and a dark and colorful blurry background
“This is a historic moment for Unitarian Universalism, as we move our living tradition forward to focus on shared values that will help promote liberation, radical inclusion, and communal care both within our church and across society,” said Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, the UUA’s President. “I am so proud of the work that our congregations, volunteers, UUA staff, and especially individual UUs have put in throughout this discernment process. It demonstrates how functioning democratic processes can be used to create change that is just and equitable.”
The UUA concluded a multi-year process of discernment to consider changes to Article II of the Association’s Bylaws, which included the Principles and Purpose. This process, which changes the way that UUs describe their beliefs and values, formally began in 2020 with the creation of a commission that recommended language focused on shared values. Two-thirds of the delegates at GA were required to pass the new language – 80 percent delegates voted in favor. The changes are effective immediately. Read more on the Article II revision process.
Next General Assembly
2026: All-Virtual | June 12–14 & June 19-21
General Assembly 2026, Meet the Moment: Together Everywhere, will unfold in two parts with a midweek pause. From Sunday, June 14 to Tuesday, June16, delegates will engage in fully virtual General Sessions focused on the business of the Association. Programming resumes Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21 with worship, featured speakers, and Meet the Moment themed programs that can be experienced online, at the studio site in Louisville, or in participating local congregations. This flexible model makes GA more accessible, sustainable, and connected for UUs everywhere.Previous General Assemblies
2025: Multi-Platform | June 18–22
will be a multi-platform event with the main stage at the
Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
We invite you to join us for the 2025 UUA General Assembly in Baltimore and/or online from June 18-22—a chance to connect, reflect, and build a future that meets this moment with purpose and courage. This year’s theme, “Meet the Moment,” calls us to engage with the evolving challenges of our world, exploring fresh ways to deepen our faith and respond boldly to our mission. Across five days of powerful worship, insightful workshops, and community-building experiences, we’ll find inspiration together, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and return to our congregations renewed. Join us in person or online to be part of this transformative experience, where every voice matters and our shared vision grows stronger. GA Registration is now open and rates go up on March 31.
Now Accepting Program Proposals If you are interested in proposing a program for the UUA GA 2025 EduCenter, the deadline is January 15. This platform will serve as a comprehensive educational hub for our event, allowing for a diversity of educational opportunities. Presenters have the flexibility to pre-record a video, present a live webinar, or do both. Presenters can also upload documents, dozens of photos, and contact information In addition, presenters will have the opportunity to schedule an in-person meet-up for further discussion and Q&A. We are seeking impactful workshops and presentations that align with our theme, “Meet the Moment" Learn more at the GA website.
SPECIAL INVITE FOR YOUTH AND EMERGING ADULTS Please share the message (YouTube) with the UU youth (14-18ish) and emerging adults (18-24ish) you know that they are invited to submit a proposal to present a pre-recorded or a live webinar at the 2025 General Assembly. The workshop can have an in-person meetup component. Visit the GA website to see what it sparks. If you have an idea but it seems overwhelming, you can email your friendly Lifespan Faith Engagement staff at and they’re more than happy to accompany you through the application process or think with you about who you could partner with and even help you make those connections.
2024: Virtual | June 20–23
In a world filled with division and challenges, the theme for this year's General Assembly is a powerful reminder of the core principles that unite us as Unitarian Universalists. "Love Unites, Stories Ignite" celebrates the profound impact of love as a binding force that transcends boundaries and fosters connections within our faith community and beyond.
Our faith has always been rooted in the power of storytelling, and this year we'll explore how our stories can ignite change, inspire compassion, and help us build a more just and equitable world. Through storytelling, we share our experiences, our dreams, our struggles, and our triumphs. It is through these stories that we can find common ground, deepening our understanding of one another and the world around us.
More GA details:
- Are you looking forward to GA 2024? This year it will be all virtual! Watch this video to learn more. Registration is open!
- The Tentative GA Business Agenda is now available.
- You can view the full list of co-horts, on-demand workshops and featured speakers at the UUA website. We'll be using WHOVA again as our GA app.
- Our Ware Lecturer is Julia Watts Belser, learn more about her.
- The Sunday morning service is open to all, led by the Rev. Molly Housh Gordon.
2023: Pittsburgh PA (Multi-platform) | June 21–25
The theme for General Assembly 2023 is "Faithfully Becoming." We continue to live in times of transition and change; so much is in flux. The COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives, our communities, and the world. It made clear the devastating and deadly impacts of longstanding racial and economic disparities. The ongoing losses and threats from climate change (of which the pandemic is not unrelated), growing authoritarian movements and the rolling back of fundamental human rights – these all present tremendous challenges for our lives, our children, and our future.
Many feel worn out and overwhelmed. But times of significant change can also be moments of opportunity and possibility. Major shifts are happening. Our theology and our values as Unitarian Universalists are needed.
2022: Portland, OR (Multi-platform) | June 22–26
Meet the Moment: Reimagining Radical Faith Community is the theme for General Assembly 2022! We will have the option of meeting online or in-person! For those who enjoyed the convenience and accessibility of remote participation, General Assembly will continue to offer a virtual experience with robust programming and enhanced delegate discussion tools. For those who miss the in-person experience, GA 2022 offers opportunities to re-connect with friends old and new, local site attractions, and more! Join us June 22 - 26, 2022 online or in-person in Portland, Oregon.
And if you are interested in the videos from GA 2022, the on-demand library is now available to the general public. The library of over 80 workshops, worship services, and other events is now available. Some recordings are no longer available due to copyright or agreements with the presenters. Check it out at the GA Recordings website
2021: Virtual General Assembly | June 23–27
Circle 'Round for Justice - Healing - Courage is the theme for General Assembly 2021. General Assembly is a time to circle ‘round in community. We circle ‘round in care and healing; for liberation and justice; and for love and courage. We share stories of the work happening at our Association. and in our congregations. We study ways to implement and live into our mission. UUA GA 2021 will incorporate recommendations from the Commission on Institution Change report, "Widening the Circle of Concern" and dialogue with the Article II Commission about our Principles and Purposes
2020: Providence, RI | June 24-28
Rev. Schuyler Vogel, the minister of the 4th Universalist Church in NYC, gave a rousing inspirational lecture about the history of Universalism in America and his church in particular. He may be familiar to you if you participated in the online UU the Vote phone bank action back in May. He and some of his congregants joined our effort with UU churches here in the Philly area, and Washington, DC. We also got a brief introduction to the new Executive Director of Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center, Diem Jones.
2019: Spokane, Washington | June 19-23
The Power of WeIn a time of great challenge and heartbreak in our world, what does our faith demand from us? At this year’s General Assembly we explored the power, possibility, purpose, struggle and joy of finding the path forward together as Unitarian Universalists. Attendees left Spokane inspired, with the tools needed to carry on the work into their own congregations and communities. Join us as we continue to work for collective liberation inside and outside our faith.
2018: Kansas City, Missouri | June 20-24
From the UUWorld: The call of our faith has a place for each of us. Join us in Kansas City as we dive deeply into questions of mission for our Unitarian Universalist Association, for our congregations and communities, and for each of us as individuals. Join us to build courageous, collective leadership with tools, skills and connections.2017: June 21-25, New Orleans, LA —
General Assembly 2017 took place June 21-25 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130.
2016: June 22-26, Columbus, OH —
This year's GA took place June 22-26 in Columbus, OH and included a Ware Lecture from award-winning broadcaster and bestselling author Krista Tippett.
2015: Build A New Way at GA
2015 General Assembly (GA) was not just have green practices: we worked for climate justice. With
Commit2Respond, a broad Unitarian Universalist movement, GA built our capacities to: shift to a lower carbon future, advance the human rights of affected
communities, and grow the climate justice movement. Unitarian Universalist worked for climate justice.
The GA 2015 theme was "Building a New Way." It was about more than climate justice. It was about breaking out of our old ways, and using our creativity to live into something new. At GA we worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone who registers may attend; delegates from our member congregations may vote. Programs and childcare were also available for children.
2014: The theme for GA was Love Reaches Out
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Religious life in America is changing dramatically and rapidly. Fewer people are identifying with specific denominations and most mainline religions are losing members in droves. People now find many outlets and places of engagement for their spiritual lives. Current studies of faith in America show that there is a movement toward a liberal, fluid kind of faith that doesn t fit with traditional denominational identity and structure. We already know that for every adult member of Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, there are at least three non-members who also consider themselves to be Unitarian Universalist.
A core purpose of our faith is to help people grow in spirit and in service. We believe that our faith provides a path for each of us to unlock our transformational capacity to serve the world with love. We want to expand our faith not just to grow Unitarian Universalism, but also to better achieve this transformational purpose. Therefore, the General Assembly Planning Committee, the UUA Board of Trustees and the Administration want the General Assembly in 2014 help our association live into a future where our Love Reaches Out to share our faith both within and beyond our congregations' walls.
